All About the New Bar
THE BAR.                         For Progress to Date with Photos, Click this Banner!!

It’s the focal point of the club.

The place to get a pint of "Sludge", "Box", "Pimms and Lemonade by the 4 pint jug" or even a "Turbo Shandy" if you’re feeling really brave/stupid.
The bar is loved by all who drink in it, all are taken by the quaint, homely feel of the place. Barstaff have to add up the prices in their head, and the ‘till’ is a set of coin trays and a pint glass for the paper money. Well, some things are going to change. As you read this, the bar area is being gutted, resized, redesigned and rebuilt as the third phase of the club refit after the changing rooms and the wardroom. (For more details on the other Phases click here).

Outline plan by Andrew Sherrington, Click to Enlarge
The layout of the lounge and bar area has been looked at, and a new design that utilises the underused space of the side passage has been drawn up.
This concept was actually thought up a while back and was forward planned so that during the refit of the ladies changing rooms a lintel was put in place. This will allow the separating wall (the back of the current bar) to be removed and increase the available area. With extra space and almost a carte blanche for where everything goes (limited by the immovable stairs) it’s been possible to completely change the layout of the bar area.

An outline plan has been drawn, by former Broadstairs member and architect Andrew Sherrington. We have uploaded the plan for you to look at, just click on the image above to open the full size picture in a new window.
Andrew's plan isn't the final plan and some areas are still subject to change. But these are mainly details, and for the most part, the layout is expected to be as per the plan. Barring any problems.

As you can see the bar is being moved to the West wall (opposite to where it is currently) and extends it to the full width of the room rather than having an ‘L’ shaped bar. This will make it easier for two people to serve at the same time (which will be invaluable when it gets busy) and give more space under the bar for glasses. The wall to the passageway will be removed and the whole area opened up to make for more room.

Members will naturally be curious about the details of the new outfit and want to get a better mental picture of how it will look, so Club Commodore Peter Holland has answered some questions about the plans details.

 

How is access to the bar going to be arranged?
To get from the main lounge to the bar to buy a drink, you will have to go through the double doors (new) into the old passageway, through the new opening and down a step. There will also be access to the bar through the existing narrow door, which is being widened. Access to behind the bar will be through a new door at the bottom of the stair well.

Will the current passageway exterior entrance be blocked up?
No. It will have new outer doors, and a pair of new inner doors to provide a thermal break.

What sort of floor covering will be going down?
The bar will have a high quality carpet.

Is the current access to behind the bar going to be blocked off?
Yes, the single door from the lounge to get behind the current bar will be blocked up. The space under the stairs will be used for storage. The safe will stay there, so it will also have a locked door from inside the new bar area.

Are there any thoughts about getting a glasswasher?
Yes. There will be one.

What are the current plans regarding materials and finish?
The bar surface is probably going to be granite, with a new ‘T’ pump. The style of the room will be painted wood panels to dado height and painted plaster above. Colours haven’t yet been decided. There is an idea for sailcloth shutters that may well be adopted.

And all the tankards?
Old drinking pots will be restricted to those in current use.

Will there be any more furniture, such as a stand alone high table, in the middle of the room?
I doubt it, but there will be shelves around the room on which to put drinks.

The radiator will have to be moved won't it?
Yes. The electric radiator in the bar is being taken out. A new one, connected to the central heating system will go just inside the existing door, on the left.

How about the extractor fan?
There will be a new ventilation/extraction system to remove cigarette smoke. No smoking elsewhere though.

 
The last day of regular bar service was Sunday 8th January. Work started after that and is expected to go on for at least 6 weeks. As there will be no bar, and no way of getting into the lounge area without walking through a building site, the clubhouse will be closed during the works so that the refit can carry on unhindered, and finish as soon as possible. The closure will mean that there will unfortunately be no Burns Night supper this January, but there will be a Grand Opening for the New Bar when it's completed. Details as soon as plans are made.